Observing N.C.’s Birth Centenary in New Delhi

Nikhil Chakravartty’s birth centenary (November 3, 1913-November 3, 2013) was befittingly observed in New Delhi. November 3 this year being Diwali, on November 2 the Editors Guild of India and Nikhil Chakravartty Memorial Foundation in collaboration with the India International Centre held a panel discussion on “Nikhil Chakravartty’s Journalism and Media Scene Today”.

Speaking at the meeting, veteran journalist B.G. Verghese called for regulation of the press. In his view, “Media does need regulation. In a democratic society, the media is unregulated. You cannot drive a high-speed car unless you have good brakes. Here the media has the power of technology... Tremendous power, but no brakes.” He then added: “It calls for self-regulation, but self-regulation itself has failed.”

His colleague in the field of journalism Kuldip Nayar advocated the constitution of a Press Commission to look into the violation of media ethics now that there is a proliferation of news channels and newspapers. He also recalled his association with N.C., how the latter had helped him and his wife during the Emergency days, how N.C. and Nayar had lit candles for peace at the Wagah border in the midnight of August 14-15, 1997 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of independence of the Indian subcontinent and cement amity in South Asia. He further underlined N.C.’s fidelity to basic media principles.

Seema Mustafa recounted her meetings with N.C. and discussions with him on the developments in the country and the media. On the present state of the media she highlighted the corporate takeover of the media in general and the threat to press freedom from such a development.

H.K. Dua, senior journalist and Rajya Sabha member, mentioned N.C.’s exposure of corruption inherent in M.O. Mathai’s Trusts—right under the nose of the then PM—in 1957, his memorable role during the Emergency and his dogged resistance to the Bihar Press Bill and Anti-Defamation Bill which had to be ultimately withdrawn. He lamented over the fact that several regions and rural areas were not being given adequate coverage in the media.

Neerja Chowdhury struck a different note by underlining the current vibrancy in the media due to phenomenal technological progress. But she too conceded the loss of credibility of the media over the years and the growing corporate influence on it.

A message from Justice P.B. Sawant, the former Chairman of the Press Council of India, and veteran journalist S. Viswam’s written contribution to the subject of discussion were read out at the meeting.

While former Foreign Secretary Muchkund Dubey, who heads the Nikhil Chakravartty Memorial Foundation, presiding over the meeting, made some introductory remarks and recounted his association with N.C., N. Ravi, the editor-in-chief of The Hindu, and President of the EGI, paid tributes to the memory of N.C. whom he described as a leading public figure besides being an eminent journalist.

On November 4-5, a two-day international conference —“Media Engagements in Contemporary Times”—was held in N.C.’s memory, Organised by the Centre for Media Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Social Sciences, EGI and NCMF, it was attended by scholars, academics, retired bureaucrats, diplomats and journalists. The former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr Kamal Hossain, and a leading Bangladesh journalist, Badrul Ahsan, participated in the deliberations. However, two distinguished friends from Pakistan, erstwhile Minister for Planning and Finance Dr Mubashir Hasan and veteran journalist and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Secretary-General I.A. Rehman, could not come due to unavoidable reasons. But they sent a message and an article that were read out. Pakistani poetress Fehmida Reaz, well known to N.C., attended the conference.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission. Among the participants Prof J.V. Naik, former Professor of History, Bombay University, and President of the Indian History Congress, spoke on “Nationalist Intelligentsia and the Evolution of Indian Media”, Prof T.K. Oommen, Professor Emeritus, JNU, and President, International Sociological Association (1990-94), spoke on “Nature of People’s Movement in Post-Independent India”, senior journalist Rami Chhabra spoke on the “Transmogrification of Indian Media Scene: From Lofty Mission to Common Marketplace”, Prof Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus, JNU, spoke on “India: Nation and the Agents of Change”.

Aruna Roy, social activist and founder member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, delivered the keynot address on the second day of the conference and showed a video of N.C. addressing MKSS activists in 1996. Dr Rakesh Batabyal of the Centre for Media Studies spoke on “Famine of 1943: The Enduring Features”, K.R. Venugopal, former Secretary in charge of Poverty Alleviation in the Union Government, spoke on “Food Crisis of 1965-67: Politics of Food Aid and Self-Reliance”, senior journalist Bharat Dogra spoke on “The Movement for Right to Food and Information” while people’s leader and founder of the Narmada Bachao Andolan Medha Patkar spoke on “From Freedom Movement to People’s Movement”.

The valedictory session found a lively discussion on “India, the Non-Aligned Movement, Quest for a New International Order and South Asian Regional Cooperation”. The participants were Dr Kamal Hossain, Fehmida Reaz, Badrul Ahsan, senior journalist Mohan Tikku, former Chief Minister of North and East in Sri Lanka Vardaraja Perumal, senior journalist Qamar Agha. Veteran journalist S. Nihal Singh presided over the session. Other sessions were chaired by Prof Muchkund Dubey, Kuldip Nayar, independent film-maker Suhas Borker, Prof Mridula Mukherjee, Dean of the JNU’s School of Social Sciences.